Universal combustion system

Abstract

A universal combustion system for positive displacement thermal engines enabling use of different kinds and types of fuels the combustion system including a premix and precombustion module that is connected to the main combustion chamber of the engine for premixing air and fuel in a premix chamber in the module that is isolated from the main combustion chamber, the module having automatic control means coordinated with the compression cycle of the engine for premixing fuel and air in the premix chamber and releasing the mixture into the main combustion chamber at an opportune time in the engine cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved premix and precombustion module for positive-displacement thermal engine having a main combustion chamber and compression means for generating compressed air in the main combustion chamber, the improved premix and precombustion module comprising: a main body with connection means for connecting the premix and precombustion module to the thermal engine, the main body having an internal premix chamber with a discharge port in communication with the main combustion chamber when the premix and precombustion module is connected to the thermal engine;   a central piston valve displaceable in the main body, the central piston valve having a valve head and the discharge port having a valve seat, wherein the head seats on the valve seat and blocks communication of the premix chamber with the main chamber when the piston valve is displaced toward the discharge port;   actuating means connected to the central piston valve for selectively displacing the valve head into seating engagement with the valve seat wherein the discharge port is closed, and for retracting the valve head from a seating engagement with the valve seat wherein the discharge port is open and the premix chamber communicates with the main combustion chamber;   air passage means between the main combustion chamber and the premix chamber having a passage and a check valve means in the passage for automatic passing of compressed air in the main combustion chamber to the premix chamber when pressure of compressed air exceeds pressure in the premix chamber, the check valve means blocking the passage from the premix chamber to the main combustion chamber when pressure in the premix chamber exceeds the pressure in the main combustion chamber; and,   controlled fuel delivery means for timed delivery of fuel under pressure to the air passage means.   
     
     
       2. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 1 wherein the controlled fuel delivery means includes a fuel supply passage that communicates with the passage of the air passage means, the fuel supply passage having a check valve means for automatically blocking the fuel supply passage from the air passage means when compressed air in the air supply passage means exceeds the pressure of fuel in the fuel supply passage, wherein fuel passed to the air passage means is scavenged by compressed air in the air passage means after the fuel supply passage is blocked by the check valve means of the fuel supply passage. 
     
     
       3. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 1 wherein the actuating means comprises a double acting piston on the central piston valve, the main body comprising a housing with internal upper hydraulic chamber and lower hydraulic chamber separated by the double acting piston, the actuating means further comprising a compression spring means in the upper chamber for contacting the double acting piston and biasing the central piston valve to the closed position; a hydraulic fluid supply means for supplying hydraulic fluid to the upper chamber under pressure, supplementing the force of closure of the compression spring of the central piston valve; and hydraulic fluid release means with adjustable pressure control valve means for automatically releasing hydraulic fluid from the upper chamber when pressure of the compressed air in the main combustion chamber acting on the head of the central valve is transmitted by the double acting piston to the hydraulic fluid, and the hydraulic fluid in the upper chamber reaches a predefined pressure. 
     
     
       4. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 3 wherein the housing includes a hydraulic fluid passage from the upper chamber to the lower chamber and the adjustable pressure control valve means releases hydraulic fluid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber. 
     
     
       5. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 4 wherein the adjustable pressure control valve means comprises a needle valve with a compression spring biasing the needle valve to a closed position and with an adjuster means for controlling the compression force of the compression spring. 
     
     
       6. The improved premix and precombustor module of claim 1 wherein the controlled fuel delivery means includes a fuel supply passage and an electronically activated valve means for regulating flow of fuel in the fuel supply passage. 
     
     
       7. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 6 wherein the electronically activated valve system includes a hydraulically actuated valve in the fuel supply passage, a pressurized hydraulic fluid supply to the hydraulically actuated valve. 
     
     
       8. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 1 further comprising: a pressurized fuel supply tank having a floating piston dividing the tank into a fuel chamber and an air chamber;   a fuel supply means with a check valve for supplying fuel to the fuel chamber and preventing backflow from the fuel chamber to the fuel supply means; and   air supply means with a check valve for supplying air from the air passage means to the air chamber and preventing backflow from the air chamber to the air supply means.   
     
     
       9. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 8 wherein the air supply means includes adjustable valve means for regulating the flow of compressed air from the main combustion chamber to the premix chamber and to the air chamber of the fuel supply tank. 
     
     
       10. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 1 further comprising: a fuel supply with a fuel line having a check valve means for protecting the fuel supply from backflow in the fuel line;   a common rail connected to the fuel line with check valve means for blocking backflow of fuel from the common rail to the fuel line; and   a piston chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a first portion in communication with the main combustion chamber and a second portion in communication with the fuel line, the second portion containing a compression spring biasing the piston against pressure from compressed gases in the combustion chamber, wherein pressure of gases in the combustion chamber is transmitted to fuel in the fuel line and peak pressures of fuel in the fuel line are transmitted to fuel in the common rail.   
     
     
       11. The improved premix and precombustion module of claim 3 wherein the compression spring means includes a compression spring and adjustment means for adjustment of the compression force of the compression spring.